Caribou Choral Society celebrates the season

Northern Maine’s first major snowfall of the season did not deter an audience of about 250 from attending the annual holiday concert of the Caribou Choral Society Saturday in Caribou.

Celebrating its 41st year of singing, the group also performed in Fort Kent on Dec. 3 and in Presque Isle on Dec. 10.

As Director Dan Ladner greeted well-wishers after the concert, he acknowledged those who called it the best performance ever.

“When someone says, ‘It was not quite as good as last year,’ I’ll know it’s time to quit.”

Titled “Ring Those Christmas Bells,” the 2017 concert presented a blend of classical and popular Christmas songs, including “Gloria In Excelsis Deo” by Antonio Vivaldi and two selections from “The Messiah” by George Frederic Handel: “And the Glory of the Lord” and “The Hallelujah Chorus.”

The 45-member chorus evoked laughter in the audience with a modern take-off on a traditional tune titled, “The Twelve Days of a Re-gifted Christmas” by Greg Gilpin. The women in the choir donned various holiday hats and antlers to perform “Santa Baby” by Joan Javits and Phil and Tony Springer.

Soloists were Dr. Dan Fowler of Fort Fairfield and Anna Scheidler of Perth-Andover, New Brunswick, singing “Still, Still, Still” and “Christmas Bells are Ringing” respectively.

An upbeat “Calypso Carol” by Michael Perry featured flutists Kevin Kinsey and Teresa Herold, both of Fort Fairfield.

“Under Starry Skies” by Ruth Elaine Schram included a quartet formed by Herold, Jane Shaw, Douglas Giroux and James Smith.

Ladner likes to educate both singers and listeners with challenging pieces, as well as entertain them with light, often comedic, selections. The opportunity to sing Handel’s “Messiah” drew one member into the chorus, who said her church choir isn’t big enough to handle it.

Two members have sung with the group since its founding in 1976 as the Caribou Bicentennial Chorus. Mary Lou Nelson of New Sweden and Donna Small of Caribou both say they value the vast amounts of music they might not otherwise have the opportunity to sing.

“It’s been a highlight of my life,” said Small during the choir’s 40th anniversary celebration last year. Nelson shared that feeling, adding that the group is “like a family.”

Darylen Cote of Caribou joined the chorus about seven years ago having known Ladner in his roles as Presque Isle High School music teacher, director of the Caribou Performing Arts Center and director of the Upward Bound program.

“He’s the reason I joined,” she said recently, echoing comments of others in the group. “He has a unique style — a great blend of humor and personal relationships. He expects professionalism, but knows everyone is not perfect. He expects us to do our best and he’s generous with praise.”

Cote said Ladner knows and remembers every member of the chorus, praising that relational aspect of his style as a factor in his ability to bring out the best in people. “He keeps us laughing,” she said of rehearsals where he might hold his nose when he’s disappointed. “He’s such a musician, such a performer and he loves the music. He makes us love it as much as he does.”

The Caribou Bicentennial Chorus became the Caribou Choral Society at the end of the nation’s bicentennial celebration. Members enjoyed singing together so much, they decided to continue and asked Ladner to be their director.

Since then, the group has attracted singers from throughout Aroostook County and neighboring New Brunswick, and has performed in many venues on both sides of the border.

“We must be doing something right,” Ladner said. “There’s nothing quite like sharing the love and enthusiasm of singing with others, and sharing that feeling with our audiences.”

The society performs every spring, as well as at Christmas, and has never charged for admission to the concerts.

“It is your great Christmas gift to all of us,” audience member Patricia Collins of Caribou told Ladner as the audience filed out of the church after Saturday’s concert.